Claremont Graduate University, Claremont, CA, USA.
Chinese Center for Disease Control and Prevention, Qingdao, China.
Int J Soc Psychiatry. 2021 May;67(3):227-231. doi: 10.1177/0020764020944202. Epub 2020 Jul 20.
The biogenetic approach in mental health stigmatization reduction has received increased attention. Taking the perspective of Weiner's attribution theory, the biogenetic explanations can be helpful in reducing the perceptions of controllability of mental illnesses (e.g., schizophrenia). However, recent studies reveal that biogenetic explanations may increase social stigma and discrimination against people with schizophrenia.
The current research, using Weiner's attribution theory, empirically examined the effects of biogenetic beliefs on the desire for social distance via perceptions of controllability and stability of schizophrenia using a Chinese sample.
A cross-sectional study ( = 156) and an experiment ( = 124) were carried out. Participants were recruited from an urban city in China. In the experiment, participants were randomly assigned to receive a biogenetic/control lecture and filled out a survey.
Biogenetic beliefs had indirect effects on the desire for social distance via decreased perceived controllability and increased perceived stability, which resulted in little to no change on the desire for social distance.
The biogenetic approach could decrease the perceptions of controllability of schizophrenia which may reduce the desire for social distance; however, it could also increase the perceptions of stability which may increase the desire for social distance, especially among close others. Cautions are warranted when using and disseminating the biogenetic causes of schizophrenia amongin the general public.
心理健康污名化的生物遗传方法受到了越来越多的关注。从韦纳的归因理论的角度来看，生物遗传解释有助于减少对精神疾病（例如精神分裂症）的可控制性的认知。然而，最近的研究表明，生物遗传解释可能会增加对精神分裂症患者的社会污名和歧视。
本研究采用韦纳的归因理论，通过对中国样本进行精神分裂症可控制性和稳定性的感知，实证检验了生物遗传信念对社会距离需求的影响。
进行了一项横断面研究（ = 156）和一项实验（ = 124）。参与者来自中国的一个城市。在实验中，参与者被随机分配到接受生物遗传/控制讲座，并填写一份调查。
生物遗传信念通过降低感知的可控性和增加感知的稳定性对社会距离的需求产生间接影响，导致对社会距离的需求几乎没有变化。
生物遗传方法可以降低对精神分裂症的可控制性认知，从而减少对社会距离的需求；然而，它也可能增加稳定性的认知，从而增加对社会距离的需求，尤其是对亲近的人。在向公众传播精神分裂症的生物遗传原因时，需要谨慎行事。
